Living off the land: Environmental impacts to access in Interior Alaska

IARC affiliated Community Partnerships for Self Reliance recently partnered with several groups including Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning to develop this visualization of change across Interior Alaska.

Between 2016 and 2017, 26 observers from nine communities in Interior Alaska documented climate-related environmental conditions that impacted their travel to areas used for hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. Conditions included ice, snow, erosion, sedimentation, water levels, vegetation composition, and weather.

These observations have been assembled into a compelling story that includes seasonal observations, photos, maps overlaid and Alaska climate data. The compilation shows the myriad of ways in which things have changed—and continue to change—for the residents of Interior Alaska.

Experience the changes through their eyes.

“Mushing from shore onto the spring ice, then out on the ice of the lake. Travel on the lake is still good by dog team, although the dogs need to go through water flooding the edge of the ice getting on/off the pack ice. Usually at this point the surface is hard and free of snow and slush, but this year found a layer of thin ice overlying watery slush sitting on the pack ice, making it slow and a little unpleasant for the dogs. Can be challenging and occasionally dangerous.” ~Miki Collins, Lake Minchumina